The draft in detail

24 November 2002 — 11:00am

ADELAIDE

32 Luke Jericho West Adelaide, 18, 190cm, 84kgQuick player with an excellent leap and good skills. Plays with flair,and a goalkicker. SA U18 representative this year. His speed and spring stood out at the national AFL draft camp, recording 86 centimetres for the running vertical jump (top 5%). Played well in West Adelaide's U19 premiership side this year.

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56 Robert Shirley Adelaide, 22, 183cm, 83kgRun-with player whose career stalled last year when he played four games compared with 17 the previous season. Given another chance after being cut from list.

68 James Begley St Kilda, 22, 188cm, 79kgEstablishing himself at St Kilda with 28 games in past two seasons. Requested trade back to Adelaide for compassionate reasons after close friend was killed in the Bali bombings. Not traded but wound up with the Crows anyway.

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HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL : The Crows stuck to their formula of locals and mature players, recycling Begley (St Kilda) and one of their own, Shirley. They will be a very seasoned unit next year.

THE CLUB VIEWJAMES FANTASIA (recruiting manager):"We went into this draft havingalready promoted three rookies, so that was our youth group, all of whom we saw as first or second-round picks, and we were quite comfortable knowing we had tou se some currency to get Wayne Carey, Ronnie Burns and Jason Torney. We’ve got a good mix of three 100-game-plus players, and three kids. We've just tried to load up on our depth. We can see a window there for the next couple of years, and we're pushing for that."

19 Troy Selwood Bendigo Pioneers, 18, 187.5cm, 76kgCourageous player with good work ethic. Impressive at half-back for Victoria Country in AFL U18; All-Australian. Runner-up in Pioneers' best and fairest. Showed exceptional endurance at national AFL draft camp. Twin brother of Adam, drafted by West Coast.

30 Daniel Merrett Southport, 17, 193.6cm, 91.5kgFormer rugby player with less than 12 months' experience in football. Made rapid rise to represent Queensland U18 team this year. Very strong in the contest and overhead.

44 Anthony Corrie Nightcliff, 18, 186cm, 72kgHard-running defender who is an excellent kick and reader of the play. Won Harrison Medal as best and fairest in division two of AFL U18's and All-Australian honours this year.

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HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Jared Brennan has amassive upside - as you’d expect for the third pick in the draft. Interesting that the Lions chose two Northern Territory kids (Brennan and Corrie). The territory has been kind to the club in the past and in Brennan, they might find a replacement for Daryl White.

THE CLUB VIEWKINNEAR BEATSON (recruiting manager): "Once Jared Brennan became available with our first pick that really helped, because ideally we wanted to try to get a taller player who can play at either end of the ground. He suited all of our needs. He’s very athletic, as the results from the draft talent camp have shown. It helps, too, that his father is living in Brisbane, as is his brother and sister."

CARLTON

45 Kade Simpson Eastern Ranges, 18, 181cm, 67kgOutside wingman with excellent balance and skills both sides.Good decision-maker whose consistent performances forVictoria Metro in AFL U18’s won him All-Australian selection. Topped off an exciting season, being a member of the Eastern Ranges premiership side in the TAC Cup. From Emerald FC. Ranked in the top five per cent at the draft camp for the agility circuit.

60 Cameron Croad Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 187cm, 85kgAthletic and versatile player who is smart around goals. Injured shoulder playing with Victoria Metro in AFL U18s. Brother Trent with Fremantle. Originally from Vermont.

72 Bradley Fisher Eastern Ranges, 18, 191cm, 73.5kgTall, inside forward from East Burwood who can also play wing. Strong overhead and valuable member of 2002 Ranges Premiership team.

84 Mick Martyn Kangaroos 34, 190cm, 101kgMartyn’s 15-year, 287-game career was assumed over when he was cut by the Kangaroos. Nominated for the national draft, written off by all and sundry, his old coach Denis Pagan and Carlton took him as their last pick and the last unpredictable stanza in anextraordinary 48 hours for the Blues.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Pagan saved the best story for last, taking the once-mighty Mick. The Blues will be bagged for drafting Martyn, but otherwise they punted on talent - the right approach in view of the salary cap wipe-out.

THE CLUB VIEWSHANE O’SULLIVAN (recruiting manager): "Of course we would have liked to have kept (selections) one and two, but despite that we got an All-Australian in Kade Simpson, a player of unlimited potential in (Cameron) Croad, a couple of young talls in (Karl) Norman and(Brad) Fisher and, obviously, some experience with Mick Martyn."

29 Luke Shackleton Tassie Mariners, 18, 177cm, 80kgInside player from Burnie Dockers who made his debut this year forTasmania Devils in VFL. Great possession-winner with excellent spring. Won All-Australian honours in AFL U18s in 2002.

43 Cameron Cloke (father-son) Eastern Ranges, 17, 194cm, 89kgDeveloping young ruckman who played in Vic Metro's win in U18 championships and Eastern Ranges’ win in TAC Cup. Son of David.

58 David King Glenelg, 17, 180cm, 80kgPlayed for Australia in junior basketball. Plays full-forward for his school and ruck-rover for Glenelgunder 19s. Strong overhead.

70 Matthew Lokan Port Adelaide Magpies, 20, 185cm,80kgPlayed for SA in the under 18 championships as a full-forward, though he is a utility and the Pies see him as a potential running back.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Strong bodies and hardness seems to be the theme here. Bo Nixon, the only taller player among the group, is considered a chance to play senior football next year, while Luke Shackleton is built like the proverbial outhouse and will need to watch, rather than put on weight. King and Lokan were late punts. Cloke was essentially recruited two years ago.

THE CLUB VIEWNOELJUDKINS (recruiting manager): "We were really keen to get another midfielder with good hands, strength and pace - Shackleton and King - and we were hoping toget a six foot three utility - Nixon. All of them are excellent overhead."

11 Jason Winderlich Gippsland Power, 18, 184cm, 74kgInside player who reads play well and kicks goals. Good vision andoverall skills; is a very team-oriented player. Victoria CountryU18 representative in 2002.

40 Jobe Watson (father-son) Sandringham Dragons, 18, 190cm,80kgSon of Essendon favourite TimWatson. Played with Xavier College and Sandringham Dragons and represented the Victorian Metro side. Many believe that only injury stopped him being All-Australian.

67 Steve Alessio Essendon, 31, 203cm, 106kgPremiership ruckman with over 100 games’ experience, drafted back after being cut by Dons.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL : The Dons leave nostone unturned in their quest for a ruckman. Yesterday, they added three to the list, two young (Laycock and Cartledge) and one old (Alessio). Winderlich, the other early pick, is a real talent.

THE CLUB VIEWKEVIN SHEEDY (coach): "We’re tryingto create a new growth of talent in the club. We went for a centre half-forward in Jason Laycock, who can also play in the ruck, and Tristan Cartledge, a ruckman. They’re developing players, so that’s why we’ve picked Alessio for another year or so. The guy’s been a very good clubman. I think you’ll see avery vibrant Essendon with a good blend of youth and experience."

FREMANTLE

13 Byron Schammer West Adelaide, 17, 175cm, 73kgDynamic inside midfielder with excellent skills both sides. Has great work rate, which won win Larke Medal in AFL U18, and All-Australian honours. MemberAIS/AFL Academy in 2001/2002 and captained Australia in one of the international matches against Ireland at under-17 level.

48 Greg Edgecumbe Eastern Ranges, 18, 184cm, 78kgHard-working midfielder/defender with good pace and excellent overall athletic ability. Can play tall or small and uses the ball well.From Wantirna South.

55 Ryan Crowley Calder Cannons, 18, 188cm, 80kgHard-working inside player who wasa member of the Victoria Metro team in 2002 AFL U18 national championships. Carries the ball well, is strong overhead and is athletic. From Gisborne Football Club.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: South Australian Schammer, outstanding in the under-18 championships, slipped through to 13 because of concerns about his size and a scaphoid injury. No Western Australians taken. All those drafted were midfielders, inside and outside.

THE CLUB VIEWPHIL SMART (recruiting Manager): "We were trying to get running-type midfielders, and we’ve got four today that might fit into that role.We’ve already got good in-and-under type midfielders, but we think we needed to bolster the players that can give us the run on the outside. That was why we wanted to pick up Des Headland. We were surprised that Byron (Schammer) was there at pick 13.Obviously the operation he needs in a few days on his (wrist bone) scaphoid pushed him down in the clubs’ thoughts. He’s a smaller-type midfielder with good vision and good football smarts."

GEELONG

7 Andrew Mackie Glenelg, 18, 192cm, 74kgAgile and versatile tall player who mainly played college football this year at Sacred Heart College.Athleticism impressed all-round at screening session in Adelaide in October. Impressed at reserve and U19 level with Glenelg late in year.

23 Tom Lonergan Calder Cannons, 18, 196cm, 80kgCreative player who presents well across half-forward. Impressive forVictoria Country in AFL U18 this year. From Yarrawonga and Assumption College. Also showed promise in TAC Cup finals with the Cannons with his marking up forward.

36 Tim Callan (father-son) Geelong Falcons, 18, 181cm, 79kgSon of former Geelong player Terry, Callan has represented Victorian Country at the U16 and U18 levels. Also played two games with Geelong’s VFL side this year on the half-forward and half-back flanks.With the Falcons, Callan has played back flank, forward flank and spent some time on the ball.

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HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: If Essendon wants ruckmen, the Cats have their own quest for a marking forward. They pulled a mini surprise by selecting Mackie in the top 10, though the Bulldogs or Brisbane would have taken him inside the top 20. Lonergan is another they’ll hope becomes a key forward.

THE CLUB VIEWSTEPHEN WELLS (recruiting manager): "It was really important for us totry to draft a couple of fellas who could mark the ball and play in the forward line, and who’d fit into the game plan, just to complement what we've already got. We've already got some developing tall players in Matt McCarthy and Henry Playfair, but we just wanted to get a couple of blokes different to them, even. We only had three picks, and we’ve saved a pick for the pre-season draft."

HAWTHORN

8 Luke Brennan North Ballarat Rebels, 17, 185cm, 76kgExtremely athletic player who is a strong mark. Member AIS/AFLAcademy in 2001-2002 and Victoria Country U18 representative in 2002. Had interrupted year with injury, but reminded observers of his potential with a five-goal performance for the Rebels against Tassie Mariners in a TAC Cup final. Recipient of Mike Fitzpatrick/AFLPAscholarship in 2001. From Horsham.

51 Tim Boyle Geelong Falcons, 18, 190cm, 81kgMuch-improved defender who reads play well and is a sound mark. Good leap, reliable kick. From Leopold.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Had a selection in the top 10 and used it to select a versatile tall flanker (LukeBrennan), courtesy of the Daniel Chick deal, but otherwise took little part and clearly did not rate the draft too highly.

THE CLUB VIEWJOHN TURNBULL (recruiting manager): "Our strategy was fairly transparent- a very athletic, marking player in Luke Brennan and two players of key-position height in Boyle andVeale."

KANGAROOS

2 Daniel Wells Peel Thunder, 17, 179.5cm, 72kgInside player with tremendous pace and evasive skills. Good decision maker and excellent kick including around goals. Member AIS/AFLAcademy in 2001-2002 captaining Australia in one of the international rules matches against Ireland at U17 level. Runner-up in the Sandover Medal in the WAFL in his second year of senior football. Superb all-round athleticism.

9 Hamish McIntosh Murray Bushrangers, 18, 202, 100.5kgStrong mark and agile player whokicks goals. Victoria Country representative in 2002. From Lavington. Giant young man, but his second efforts and skills are excellent for a person of his size.

18 Kris Shore Eastern Ranges, 17, 189cm, 80kgInside forward who has a good leap and strong hands. Uses the ball well either side and is mobile. Is extremely versatile and team-oriented. From Seville.

25 Callum Urch Western Jets, 18, 182cm, 79kgPenetrating left-footed defender who is good overhead. Consistent performer for Victoria Metro in AFLU18 won him All-Australian honours. From Spotswood.

31 Joel Perry Eastern Ranges, 17, 191cm, 79kgCan play back or forward, strong overhead and a penetrating kick. Member AIS/AFL Academy squad in 2001-2002 and Victoria Metro representative this year.

38 Blake Grima Eastern Ranges, 18, 179cm, 77kgInside player who reads game well and kicks long. Vice-captain of winning Victoria Metro team in 2002 AFL U18. From East Burwood.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: The major winners from Carlton’s demise, gaining access toWells. They used other picks to shore up their diminished stocks of key-position players.

THE CLUB VIEWNEVILLE STIBBARD (recruiting manager): "Our main focus was to get some developing talls into the club, with Jason McCartney recovering and Wayne Carey no longer at the club. We went for the best player (Daniel Wells) with our first pick."

MELBOURNE

14 Daniel Bell Glenelg, 17, 186cm, 82kgStrong in the contest and versatile player who can play forward and kick goals. SA U18 representative this year winning All-Australian honours. Member AIS/AFLAcademy in 2001/2002 playing against the Irish at U17 level wherehe impressed. From Kingston in country South Australia.

15 Nick Smith Norwood, 18, 195cm, 9kgStrong-marking player with good awareness, maturing as a player and athletic type. Captained SA in AFL U18 this year playing centre half-back, but can play forward.

26 Jared Rivers North Adelaide, 18, 191cm, 85kgStrong-marking player who represented SA at AFL U18 level last year but missed 2002 due to injury. Reads the play well and has played senior football in SANFL.

39 Gary Moorcroft Essendon, 26, 173cm, 86kgPossibly of the best of the recycled players in this draft. A cheeky small forward with the ability to take big grabs.

54 Cameron Hunter Calder Cannons, 18, 185cm, 70kgSon of triple Carlton premiership player, Ken Hunter. He is about185 centimetres with an incredible leap and brave in the same manner as his father.

66 Ryan Ferguson Frankston, 21, 194cm, 90kgJunior basketball background, turned more seriously to football over past three or four years. Came to notice playing centre half-back for VFL side Frankston.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Provided two of themost interesting stories by choosing Moorcroft, and Ken Hunter’s son Cam. The Demons have clearly spent plenty of time in Adelaide, and their choices also suggested they are still worried about height in defence.

THE CLUB VIEWCRAIG CAMERON (recruiting manager): "Overall, we were trying to pick the best player, but we wanted to come out of the draft with some talls. The reason for Moorcroft is that we thought it added a dimension to our forward line. We were set on our last two picks - we thought he’d be there and we thought Carlton might pick him."

PORT ADELAIDE

6 Steven Salopek Dandenong Stingrays, 17, 183cm, 82kgTremendous ball-winner in midfield. Can also play forward and kick goals or tight in defence. All Australian in U18 this year after being AIS/AFL Academy member in 2001-2002. From Narre Warren. His endurance results, particularly his decision-making speed, reaction time and peripheral awareness, impressed at the draft camp.

16 Stephen Gilham Oakleigh Chargers, 18, 190.5cm, 76kgAthletic and agile player who is good at ground level. Victoria Metro captain in winning AFL U18 championship this year earning All-Australian honours. From Beverley Hills football club he missed later part of the season due to injury. Has poise and is a good decision maker.

42 Brett Ebert (father-son) Port Adelaide, 19, 178cm, 83kgSmall versatile type, penetrating left-footer who is strong overhead for his size and has clean hands.Showed promise at senior level with Port SANFL club this year. Father Russell was a triple Magarey medallist and SA legend who had a short stint with the Kangaroos.

69 Wade Champion West Adelaide, 18, 191.5cm, 87kgStrong overhead and hard at the ball. Good at ground level. SA U18 representative in 2002.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Salopek, rated top three by many judges, fell through to pick six and the Power pounced.While SA players were flavor of the draft again, Port used its earlypicks on Vics (Salopek and Gilham).

THE CLUB VIEWALAN STEWART (recruiting manager): "We’re surprised Salopek got through to us, but absolutely delighted with it. We always rated him in our top three and we never thought he would get through to where we were at six. It’s the same with Stephen Gilham: we rated him in the top six and he’s got a lot of development left. It’s funny, in our pre-draft work our direction was to try and pick up South Australians, and it didn’t happen to work out that way."

RICHMOND

12 Jay Schulz Woodville-West Torrens 17, 191.5cm,86kgStrong-marking forward who can also play in defence. MemberAIS/AFL Academy in 2001-2002 winning Ron Barassi Medal as the series’ best and fairest player in Australia v Ireland U17 this year. SA U18 representative in 2002. Is capable of kicking a bag of goals when in top form. From Central Yorke Cougars Football Club.

47 Billy Nicholls Hawthorn, 21, 183cm, 81kgNicholls was delisted by the Hawks after failing to play a senior match in 2002 as he battled shoulder, groin and hamstring problems. A hard-at-the-ball type, Nicholls made his debut last year and played six games for the Hawks, including the 2001 elimination final against Sydney.

62 Daniel Sipthorp Calder Cannons, 18, 187cm, 80kgAttacks ball strongly and good overhead. Victoria Metro U18 representative this year where he showed ability at both ends. From Woodend FC.

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HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: The Tigers must fancy themselves close to contention or did not rate the draft at all, given that they used two choices for mature players (Nicholls and Fleming). Schulz, a key-position prospect, was the exception.

THE CLUB VIEWGREG BECK (recruiting manager): "Jay Schulz gives us some height, which we needed. Fleming’s a hard,dogged, run-with midfielder type we’ve kept an eye on for a couple of years in the Carlton VFL side - with him and Billy Nicholls coming on, with a shorter list of 35 players next year, we just needed some guys would could step up and play straight away. Daniel Sipthorp’s a hard-working utility who played under-18s who can play at both ends of the ground."

ST KILDA

1 Brendon Goddard Gippsland Power, 17, 189cm, 82kgInside player who can play midfield, back or forward. Strong overhead, reads play well and excellent kick to position. Won Sheehan Medal in AFL U16s in 2001 and member AIS/AFL Academy 2001/2002, where he captained the Australian U17 team against Ireland in one of the international rules Tests. All-Australianin AFL U18s in 2002. From Traralgon FC and Caulfield Grammar. Excellent all-round athlete with impressive speed.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: St Kilda has more young talent than Johnny Young ever knew, thanks to their perennial pole position in the draft. Add Goddard to the ranks of the budding superstars at Moorabbin.

THE CLUB VIEWJOHN BEVERIDGE (recruiting manager): "Delighted. Brendon (Goddard) was a unanimous choice for No. 1, but Ferguson isan All-Australian as well and Fisher, like Ferguson, is excellent in the air."

SYDNEY

5 Jarrad McVeigh NSW/ACT Rams, 17, 184cm, 70kgExtremely athletic player who is strong overhead and a good decision-maker. Joint winner of McLean Medal in AFL U16 in 2001, but injured shoulder while representing Australian U17 team in Ireland in 2002. Missed the entire season but has fully recovered and reminded clubs of some of his outstanding attributes at the draft camp. Brother of Essendon’s Mark. Originally from Pennant Hills FC in Sydney.

34 Sean Dempster(father-son) Gippsland Power, 18, 189cm, 79kgCan play midfield as well as key forward where he can kick goals.Very mobile and athletic type. Father Graham played with South Melbourne before the move to Sydney. From Mallacoota and played with Snowy Rovers.

50 Josh Thewlis Bendigo Pioneers, 18, 185cm, 80kgStrong, athletic player from Donald who represented Victoria Country in AFL U18 this year, but performances curtailed by hip injury. Has very good skill level and is strong overhead as well as impressive on the track.

64 Nick Malceski Eastern Ranges, 18, 186cm, 72kgAthletic player with excellent disposal skills on both sides and good decision-maker. Can play either end and a member of winning Vic Metro team in AFLU18s this year. From North Ringwood FC.

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HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: McVeigh’s recruitment was expected and a sign that the Swans felt they needed to take the local - Sydney’s first and second picks have been spent on Sydney kids (Nick Davis being the other). Dempster, the father-son choice, represents value at pick 34.

THE CLUB VIEWRICK BARHAM, recruiting manager: "With our first pick being early, we just wanted to get a player who was a very good midfielder. With the next pick at 50, all the big blokes were gone.We probably wanted a tall defender, but there were none left. Having said that, all the boys are between that six foot one to six foot three bracket, which is OK."

WEST COAST

24 Paul Johnson Dandenong Stingrays, 18, 197cm, 98kgPlayed with Ashley Sampi in the AIS team that battled Ireland in a match in Perth in 2001 and represented Victoria Metro in the national U18 championships this year. Plays full-forward as well as in the ruck.

37 Brent Staker NSW-ACT Rams, 18, 194cm, 87kgAfter growing up in Broken Hill, Brent progressed to the NSW/ACT Rams with whom he played in the TAC Cup. A mobile key defender who has also played wing, he looms as an exciting young product. He was rated much higher by the club’s recruiting team than where he was drafted at pick 37.

53 Adam Sellwood Bendigo Pioneers, 18, 188cm, 79kgA running half-back or midfielder, he did not play for Victoria Country in the national U18 championships because of recurring calf problems, which seem to have been rectified. Played for Victoria Country in theU16 championships a year ago and his twin brother, Troy, was taken by Brisbane at selection no.19.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: The Eagles would be chuffed that Johnson, rated inside their top five, made it to pick 24,but it was that kind of draft. Like the Dockers, they couldn’t find a spot for a WA boy.

THE CLUB VIEWTREVOR WOODHURST (recruiting manager): "Our only philosophy now is that we pick what we think is the best player. That’s paying off for us OK with our younger players at the moment. We were pleasantly surprised that Paul Johnson got through to us at pick 24. We’ve gota pretty tall squad, but he’ll add to it nicely and keep pressure on some of the younger kids."

17 Cameron Faulkner Central Districts (SANFL), 18, 177cm,71kgInside midfielder with good evasive skills and clean hands. Has explosive pace and is a good decision-maker. Missed AFL U18 due to injury. Missed draft camp due to SANFL grand final commitments.

20 William Minson Norwood, 17, 195cm, 95kgPower forward/relief ruckman who played school football and for Norwood’s under-17 team last season. An exciting type. Will be a development player in 2003.

49 Cameron Wight Calder Cannons, 17, 197cm, 88kgWight’s father, Terry, played for Collingwood. He is a 198-centimetre developing ruckmanwith good skills and agility.

HOW YOUR CLUB FAREDJAKE NIALL: Usually they’ve gone for best available regardless of needs, but this time the need for talls was overpowering. The Dogs missed Jared Brennan and took the tall they rated next, Tim Walsh. Faulkner has Jeff Farmer-like traits.

THE CLUB VIEWSCOTT CLAYTON (recruitingmanager): "We got a good mixture and the players fell where we thought they would. We thought Tim was the best player at our pick. He’s got all the attributes, so we’ll have to develop him now. Scott Bassett will be able to play immediately, and we took a couple of punts with Walsh, Murphy and Wight, who’ll need some development."